I was just listening to a sermon on TV and the message was about having

challenges in life and learning to pick ourselves up and persevere...and while walking this difficult road we are to have FAITH in God. For we are to give all of our problems to Him and trust in Him. LOVE Him, no matter what. I have given my personal burdens to God. When I tell you this I get a visual image of The Hulk - the green beast with massive shoulders and strength - and conjure up this image of God carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. My burdens alone would be enough to break even the Hulk's back. But remember....

1Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

No matter how dark my days can be or how heavy my heart feels, I just have to remember that God LOVES us and His promise is Heaven....

where our Jordy awaits for our family. Till then, I keep pulling up my bootstraps and remind myself that life is not easy. Not for me, not for any of us.

I am continually blessed by so many wonderful friends that I have met through this blog. Truly wonderful friends! Thank you for your continued prayers, emails, notes and comments. YOU are blessing.

A real blessing.

Thank you for sharing your hearts with me.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1).

Sherri's Peach Long Cake

My dear friend and neighbor, Sherri, came over last week to show me this fabulous Peach Long Cake that she had made to take to a party for her grandaughter. It looked and smelled devine and I just have to share this amazing recipe with you all!
.......Made with fresh, ripe and oh-so-sweet California grown peaches.....

.......with a gooey cake like topping that was hot and bubbling - fresh out of the oven.

The recipe is from one of her favorite recipe books (she only has a zillion)

titled From Amish & Mennonite Kitchens.

Now you must note that my plate is empty........

yes......

sad face....

..as I said she made it for a party. Sherri is always thinking of her husband, Dennis, and she had made him his own individual sugar free cobbler, that of which I got a heaping and delightful piece of!

Thank you, Sherri!

Peach Long Cake

makes 10 servings

4 cups sliced peaches

1/2 cup sugar

DOUGH

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

6 TBLSP sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup shortening

1 large egg, beaten

2/3 cup milk

Sprinkle sugar over the sliced peaches and set aside.

Sift flour adding baking powder, sugar and salt.

Cut in the shortening.

Add egg and milk and stir until moistened.

Spread the dough into a well-greased 9" x 13" pan.

Arrange peach slices over the dough.

TOPPING

1/4 cup margarine

1/4 cup sugar

3 TBLSP flour

Cream these 3 ingredients together and place spoonfuls of it

over the peaches.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Serve warm with milk or whipped cream.

Enjoy!!!

An Afternoon Glimpse

There is just something about the afternoon light............

....the way it softly bounces off of the walls......

...and changes the tones of the paint...soft...........

..............................linear...

.............crisp.....................

Tranquility.

Is There A Doctor In The House?

Don't you love a good challenge? I sure do - especially when it

comes to personalizing something to make it JUST how you want it.

I just have to tell myself to be "patient!" (insert a yeh, right here!)

Here is just a glimpse of the "after" shots...

I will share the dining room re-do soon.

Let me introduce my challenge to you.....Just call me Dr. Becky.
I found these wonderful Italian chairs for 25.00 each at a thrift store.
For many months I have been in search for some sweetly carved chairs to paint creamy white.

LOVE the look of the dainty cabriolet legs and carved ladder back, but I don't like the dark

wood or upholstery. So here we go......a long project.....

A project that you just cannot worry about what your fingernails are going to end up looking like in the end.

These are the "doctor" tools to remove the upholstery...and the 800 plus

tacks. (I had flashbacks of working in the operating room...minus the help).

I could have paid someone to do this, however there is more gratification in saying, "I did it all on my own" as Miss Fiona supervised.

Any projects going on in your home?

Old Phone

............Hello................
..............you rang?. I have been told I look like Bette Davis....
and sometimes like Karl Mauldin....
....and also Snuffleupagus .....you like?.....

......I smile big when I hear from you......

....and have sad days when I don't.

I have good ears to listen with....

......kind of like Mouse Ears, don't you think?

....in suspense for your next call...

....and will never hang up on you!

There is nothing better than to share a minute with a friend...

don't you think?

....aNd ThE WiNnEr Is........

I used Tara's Random Number Generator to choose the winner

of my 25.00 Amazon Book giveaway...

....and the winner is....

MARIE at Spun By Me Blog!!

Congrats to Marie!!!

This was fun so I will have to do this again sometime!

What are some of your favorite books at this time?

xx

My New Comfy Reading Chair

Before I start my post, let me say that I am having a giveaway and you must enter to win on that particular post - dated August 15th.. Just click HERE if you have not already entered. If you don't have a blog, you still can enter by leaving a comment AND your email address on that post. Because I so enjoy having a new book to read, I thought it would be fun for someone to be able to order a new book for themselves. Maybe one that has been on your wish list....sound good?

Below are some photos of my new/old comfy chair that I bought from my wonderful friend, Sandi. Sandi owns a fabulous antique store in Escalon, California called The Green Pea. You can get also read up on the adventures of Sandi, and her shop, on her blog with the same name as her shop - The Green Pea Boutique This is an old cut velvet chair that tugged at my heart strings when I first saw it. It reminds me of the flocked wallpaper that was in the home I grew up in. My mother was so proud of herself when she bought it and hung it on the wall all by herself.

Kind of hippy-dippy - but what they hey! I love it! ...and it is super comfy, too!

The morning light steams in through the windows and makes this the perfect spot to drink my coffee and grab a quick read before starting my day.

We all need places like this, don't we?

It is a kind of kick your feet up and get lost in a good book kind of a day.....

xx

Fruity

I "heart" strawberries....

blueberries...

fresh pineapple...

...grapes..

and watermelon...

....and I "heart" you, too!

Enjoy our summer treats while they are here.

**muah!**

(Don't forget to sign up to for my giveaway on the previous post!)

It's Giveaway Time!!

So much has been going on over here at Sweet Cottage that even the puppers are exhausted!

However, we will take pause to celebrate a fabulous new book that is out titled

Blogging For Bliss, by Tara Frey. I know that most of you have undoubtedly read or heard about it - but for those who have not - it is a sweet book full of tips on blogging. Many of our blog friends are featured and we are just soooooo excited for them! Huh, Doogs and FiFi!? They say "Aroooooo!"

One of our blog friends, Artsy Mama, is having a giveaway for a copy of Blogging For Bliss. Be sure to stop over on this post to enter to win!

Now for my giveaway .... You will be able to order one book of your choice from AMAZON.com up to a 25.00 value. (I will also pay for the shipping). Blogging For Bliss is available to buy on Amazon. I have my copy and LOVE it!!

This is how it works.....

Just leave a comment that you would like to be entered to win my giveaway.
If you don't have a blog, leave me your email address with your blog comment. This way I will have a chance to contact you should you be the lucky winner!!
I will choose the winner on the evening of August 20th (Pacific Time). At the end of the contest you will simply go to Amazon.com, pick out the book and then let me know which one it is that you would like. I will then order it for you and have it sent to your home. Easy Peasy...

Now run along and go shopping on Amazon.com!

Have a sweet weekend! xx

Thank You, Sweet Amy!

Sweet Amy, over at My Vintage Blankie blog, hosted a wonderful giveaway...

...for this adorable handmade baby blanket. Guess who was the lucky recipient?
Thank you so much Amy! I just love it and it is as sweet as can be!!

Amy's hand-embroidery is perfect! Just look at this sweet vintage inspired duck and dog! Professionally tagged and made in the USA!

Can you just feel how soft this sweet baby blanket is?

Trust me, it is the perfect gift to give to a mother-to-be!

Stop on over to Amy's website and treat someone to a wonderful Vintage Blankie and check out all of the other lovely items she has for sale.

xx

Pretty Inside and Out

I remember my mother telling me this: "It doesn't matter how pretty on the outside you are, it is what is on the inside ~ in your heart ~ that matters the most."

Wouldn't you say that roses are pretty on the inside and out? So graceful...each unique...like all of us. Like a rose, we start out small and then bloom into our own shape and size.

I love the saying, "Take the time to smell the flowers." I try to remind myself of this, especially if I need a simple dose of cheering up. Roses are the perfect anecdote....

...there is beauty at all angles and change with the unfurling of each petal.

Take time in your day to inhale the sweet aromas of the flowers for they are only here for a moment.

Big blooms of love from ABOVE.

Pretty on the inside and out.

What is your favorite rose?

(note: The solid red roses are Abe Lincolns and the pink and yellow roses are Double Delights - my husband's favorite roses of all.)

**Have a sweet week ~~ take some time to enjoy each day.**